Storekeeper remanded over theft charges
AN Abuja Chief Magistrate Court yesterday ordered that a 26-year-old store keeper be remanded in police custody until police concludes their investigation in a case concerning abetting theft by Dauda Ishaya and Monday Ogah, of no fixed address.
Zechariah Sauda of Wuse 2, Abuja, was arraigned for allegedly screening off an offender and committing an offence contrary to Section 167 of the Penal Code.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Philip Yakubu, informed the court that on December 28, one Daniel Joseph reported to the police that Monday Ogah and Dauda Ishaya jointly stole items from his office at Asokoro.
He listed the stolen items as a Toyota Camry car with registration number HQ 975 ABC, a Toyota Hilux van with registration number AA 859 AWE, a Toyota Corolla car with registration number AA 632 and eight desktop computers.
He further stated that during police investigation, it was discovered that the accused stood as a guarantor to one of the culprits, Ishaya Dauda, who was a security guard attached to his office before they committed the crime and absconded.
He also said when the criminal suspect took those items to the accused, instead of reporting to the police, he rather abetted him and let him go, thereby committing an offence.
When the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty and request for bail, which was opposed by the prosecutor, on the grounds that investigation was on going and the accused may jump bail if granted.
Chief Magistrate Azubuike Okeagu ordered that the accused be remanded in police custody pending when the case will come up for hearing and adjourned the case to January 31 for hearing.
DAILY TRUST Wednesday, January 5th 2011
Page 49
By Itodo Daniel Sule & Abdulkadir Y.Abdullahi
